SHOW ME YOUR 4:3 Alternative Lenses

I have many lenses in Canon FD mount, Nikon, Rollei mount Zeiss lenses, Pentax lenses, Leica lenses, Canon RF lenses.

The joy of using the all with one camera must be awesome. I will pretty soon get an Olympus EPL-2 with EVF.
 
Hi Raid,
Did you decide in the Olympus for any particular reason? I think it's the better looking of the two cameras but my internet searches seem to suggest the Panasonic is a slightly 'better ' camera.
There is so much nice glass available it could be a great experience trying it all out ;]
Brian
 
I'm waiting for my E-PL2 + 14-150 kit for my next travel in Vietnam, with the addition of Panasonic pancakes 14 f/2.5, and 20 f/1.7, and an Arax 20 f/2.8 tilt-shift I'm considering to buy on eBay (from ukranian seller Grizzly33bear).

After return, I'll probably try my Pen F lenses 40 f/1.4 and 60 f/1.5, I also have my "big is beautiful" Panasonic 4/3 Summilux D 25 f/1.4, and my Olympus 12-60 SWD zoom which I'm trying to sell.
:)
 
bgb said:
Hi Raid,
Did you decide in the Olympus for any particular reason? I think it's the better looking of the two cameras but my internet searches seem to suggest the Panasonic is a slightly 'better ' camera.
There is so much nice glass available it could be a great experience trying it all out ;]
Brian
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Hello Brian,
The EP2 has IS, and it looks and feels like a film camera. I mostly use ASA100 film, so having good results up to ASA1600 is more than sufficient for me. It is for me a digital camera that will be used side by side with an M film camera. I asked two gentlemen at RFF for their input, and I will go with what they informed me about. It is a matter of trust.
 
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Canon50mmf1.4.jpg

 
Thanks for that Raid, I agree the Olympus is by far the better looking camera and IS is a very useful tool to have.
I would mean i could use the OM lenses on the PEN and Olympus did make some very beautiful glass.
It would give me the best solution for film and digital, an OM-1 and PEN E-P2 and just one adapter.
Brian:D
 
kbg32 said:
Some lenses performed really poorly for me. I find the lenses that were designed for the system to work best.(…) Plus, as a wide angle user, any lens I would adapt, the focal length is doubled.
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+ 1
I tried all my M-Mount Voigtlander lenses on my GH1 (12mm f5.6, 15mm f4.5, 28mm f2, 35mm f1.4, 50mm f1.5) and my Jupiter 11 and nothing as good as the native Panasonic 20mm f1.7, or even the 14-45mm kit lens zoom.

BUT FOR "SPECIAL EFFECTS", I'm really happy with some special lenses:
- C-mount lenses (you will find a special thread here :
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=99501
- Pentax auto 110 lenses (very funny little lenses)
- TTV contraptions systems, like mine with an Argus 75 :
4771359186_6348324fb0.jpg
 
bgb said:
Thanks for that Raid, I agree the Olympus is by far the better looking camera and IS is a very useful tool to have.
I would mean i could use the OM lenses on the PEN and Olympus did make some very beautiful glass.
It would give me the best solution for film and digital, an OM-1 and PEN E-P2 and just one adapter.
Brian:D
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I will get the EP2 in one week. First, I will make use of the M adapter and M/LTM lenses. Later, I may get a few additional adapters for SLR lenses. I already have a Canon FD-LTM and Minolta-LTM adapters.

The CV 25/4 will become a good 50mm lens for daylight photos.
The Summicron 35/2 will be a good portrait lens or short tele.
The Summicron 50/2 will be a good tele lens.

I will explore the possibilities of using a Canon 7.5mm FD and 17mm FD, plus 19mm FL and a 21mm Minolta Rokkor. These will be my alternative wide angle lenses besides the Olympus 17mm lens.

I also have a wonderful 24mm/2.5 Tamron that I can use with the FD adapter-LTM for a 48mm normal lens that is tack sharp.

One day, we may have a lower priced camera with features that combine the best from 4/3 and NEX and other systems. Until then, I will just enjoy taking photos, without worrying about pixels and sensor size. My belly size is more important. It needs to shrink!

I like using a LUMIX DMC FZ5 with IS and a super [Leica] zoom. I love it.
 
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bgb said:
This thread has created more GAS for me than any other in history and so I will be looking at either a GF1 or an E-P2 to replace most of my cameras. Hell the little beast could replace them all as i would be able to concentrate on nice glass and actually taking photos.
The idea of being able to use legacy lenses is exciting but i think i will start with the 20mm or 17mm.
Importantly for me it's affordable and when the next model comes out I can sell the old body keep the lenses and have even more fun.

:D
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Get the 20mm ;)
 
BEST OOC jpeg for IQ and sharpness....which model....

BEST OOC jpeg for IQ and sharpness....which model....

Olympus E-PL1 so far. Weakest Anti Aliasing filter of the lot... both Olympus and Panasonic.

I waited out the E-P1 and E-P2, plus the Panasonic GF1 for this development. My goal has been an Olympus which would give me the best images OOC, allowing avoidance of Post Processing.

Aside from the vast array of legacy lenses, the OOC Jpegs have been the finest I have seen. I suspect the E-PL2 is consistent with this level off AA filter. However, I am now holding for the pro level micro 4/3 coming mid year 2011.

I've tested my E-PL1 against other 4/3 bodies, plus bought an 18 MP Canon T2i. The E-PL1 kicked the Canons ass for IQ and sharpness. I kept the Canon for 60 days, then resold it. It could never measure up to the E-PL1, without substantial post processing. I truly dislike post processing, choosing to shoot and achieve the best OOC images possible. The E-PL1 does that for me.

Another plus is that the E-PL1 has a flash on board, and has the port for the VF-2,microphone, etc and a flash shoe.

While some complain about the lack of control wheels, it is still the most versatile and best IQ of the m4/3 units, except perhaps the new E-PL2.
 
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@dierdre, Which FD to m4/3 adapter are you using? I had trouble with the first one I bought. Couldn't focus to infinity.
 
My MFT silver/chrome collection :

Chinese "no brand" LTM pinhole
Voigtländer LTM Super-Wide Heliar 15mm f4.5 aspherical
SOM Berthiot C-Mount Cinor 20mm f1.9
Voigtländer LTM Color-Skopar 28mm f3.5
Concord Television C-Mount 50mm f1.4
SOM Berthiot C-Mount Cinor 50mm f2
Voigtländer LTM Nokton 50mm f1.5 aspherical
Jupiter-11 LTM 135mm f4

Shot with Panasonic GH1
+ black paint Cosmicar C-Mount Television 75mm f1.4 :)

5582278533_9668575c08_z.jpg
 
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Hello

Finally I received my RJ Pen F adapter and tried the 40 and 60 mm.
I tried them and compared with my 14-150 zoom at the equivalent focals, and at every aperture of the Pen F lenses, and the available same apertures on the zoom. I posted the pictures on this french Olympus Forum. It is written in french but you'll easily understand the legends of the pictures.

Do not hesitate to ask questions

I like the results :)
 
kbg32 said:
In my experience, I have found no reason to adapt legacy lenses to M 4/3 bodies. I don't find the results worth the effort. Some lenses performed really poorly for me. I find the lenses that were designed for the system to work best. I can't find fault with others for using legacy lenses. Kudos to you all! Some of your results have been impressive. I need the quickness of the autofocus and the quickness of the system as a whole. Plus, as a wide angle user, any lens I would adapt, the focal length is doubled.
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I thought the same till I mounted a steel ruler with 1/32nd and 1/64th divisions to a vertical board clamped to a table. I used a level to get it exactly vertical and I made sure the lens was exactly vertical as well. I shot my lenses at about 5 ft away in good light with timer delay. I opened the images in Photoshop elements and scaled the images to 100%. Big eye opener. Not only did I become dismayed with the cheaper Panasonic glass, but my round of images from the different Canon glass I own showed just how good or bad my examples were in resolution, contrast and at different apertures. The best example was to no surprise a 50mm F1.4 SSC BL. Suprisingly tho the best aperture was F4, followed in half stops to F8 and then back to F2.8&1/2. I'm getting a Pentax K adapter shipped to me now to try out a couple of lenses I own and hope they're not junk.
 
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